Category Archives: Truckblog on The Move

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Sunday sticker giveaway!! I’ve got 10 stickers in envelopes needing addresses. If you want one please like my Facebook page, following me on Twitter or Instagram and send me a photo of your truck. The first ten names will be the lucky ones and happy to post to anywhere in the world…..

If you haven’t worked out yet that the best trucks on the road have 6 stud wheels and a space/sky cab then I’m not sure you’ve been reading the blog long enough! 😉

Since I had my little MAN back in 1999, I’ve loved little trucks with big cabs, not just standard sleepers. Most are engaged on interesting and or long distance work and like mine used too, often clock up as miles as their bigger brothers and sisters. I have now started a new Facebook group called #littlebigcabclub purely for the big cab versions. Manufacturers offer big cab sleepers such as Iveco, Mercedes-Benz or MAN Straight from the factory, the rest need one of the many aftermarket options from UK or European suppliers such as Hatcher Components, KUDA, Spojkar or PONY.

This delightful little MAN TGL 12.180 LX belongs to FCL Event Logistics Ltd. It’s been so busy since it’s arrival it’s running undercover as there hasn’t been time to get it sign written. She’s been loading next to my work so I had to pop round and have a look. Partly for curiosity as I still want to buy another one myself and also because I wanted to see the rearranged interior with a proper “big truck” under bunk fridge. I want one. I spoke to Phil the driver and he loves the truck, it just so happens I messaged FCL and they were happy to tell me a little more and also allow a TB sticker on the back end. I’m honoured, thank you FCL! #tbonthemove

“Hello, she is one of our growing fleet, we have 18 trucks with various sizes from 7.5 ton trucks to 45 ft Mega trailers. We supply trucks for events all over the UK and Europe. The 12 tonner which you have seen is new to our fleet and therefore doesn’t have a private plate and is not sign written yet. She will travel throughout the UK and Europe delivering Audio visual and lighting to corporate events or exhibitions. It will also go to festivals and arenas plus private events etc.

We would be more than happy to have a TB sticker on her. Many thanks”

Not such a dodgy title trust me. I was sent some photos from Gurdeep Singh on his travels around Sweden and as you can see his Actros is somewhat dirty. From this I thought I’d just ask you lot for some similar shots. I had a few come through but not so dirty for most, I’m guessing that could be down to us here in the UK having a slightly drier week than we’ve had for months! Any way next up is Graham Wilson with a nice shot of a couple of grubby toppers sitting in the sun. Almost a little artistic this one Graham.

More dirty tippers from Paul Wheatley and DE Contracting. I know what it’s like doing landfill work in an 8 wheelers and it would appear that spending your working week going in and out of Calvert Landfill is no different. By landfill we mean landfill sites, no roads just tracks, plenty of mud, dirt, water and what ever else. Landfill really does test the best of 8 wheelers and it’s hard graft on any make of truck.

The 143 might not look to dirty to most of you but if you’ve ever seen it at a show then you’ll know it is usually absolutely spotless. Owner Ian Maclean spotted here out on a road run with the big V8 and by his own admission it was filthy!

Mark Hunsley just wanted a little bit of fame for his new steed I think and I’m happy to honour him with some blog space. Marks just moved out of another German truck into the GigaSpace Actros and with a full, full white paint job she’s looks delightful. I’m sure she is dirty down either side so that earns the place on the blog!

So just a few dirty trucks but it’s a bit of fun. I have to say that I think Gurdeep Singh gets top marks as he is now wearing a TB sticker on his trailer and even through the dirt of Scandinavia he managed to get the sticker wiped clean, top work Gurdeep!!

No I’m not being a casual racist, I’m after a little fun and an experiment. The chap on the right is Gurdeep Singh, the latest driver to take on a TB sticker and his friend of course, both of whom drive for Menabetz. These were handed out by blog regular Matt Ireland who has a small stash of TB stickers to hand out on his travels far and wide. Saying that by far and wide in this case, it was Lymm Truckstop here in England that this little sticker swap took place. Hopefully this won’t be the last we see of Gurdeep and his sticker.

Since I started with the stickers, it’s always fascinated me for some reason as to how far I could get stickers on trucks, of course the internet shrinks the world everyday so, I have sent stickers to Australia and the United States already but I was wondering how many more I can send out. On the main page website you will see a section called “TB on the move“, there are a few photos on there of TB stickers on the move on the back of various trucks around the world. So prompted by the above photos and also the photo below, here’s comes the offer. To all those outside the UK who read this and drive a truck, if you send me your address I will happily post you a sticker to put on your truck. No matter where you are in the world all you then have to do is send me a photo of your truck wearing the TB sticker. Easy Peasy!

I know the stickers get about europa a bit, what with Steve Marsh and his little MAN sporting a sticker and others such as Richard Warren spotted this week in Dover on his way to Switzerland sporting a TB sticker on the back on his low height Volvo (look carefully!). Yet another great photo taken by Neil Jarrold. Here’s a reminder of what you need to do to get your free sticker;

A man after my own heart, Jonathan Campbell of Essex. A man with a 15 ton Mercedes-Benz Atego, that probably gets around Europe more than most of the rest. Recently covering Ireland, Turkey and Greece to name a few. With a good size box body, good customer contacts and years of European experience Mr Campbell is the man that can. The Atego has had a few additions recently in the way of auxiliary roof cooler and a tidy Kelsa light bar.

I’m pleased to say Jonathan is one of the “lucky” few who are sporting a Truckblog sticker on his motor and as you can see the sticker is in good company. As it goes that sticker is the only one I’ve genuinely seen on the move. Spotted late one evening on the M25 coming back into Essex from Dartford, I have to say I was quite chuffed, the kids got excited and the wife didn’t care a less! Anyway I digress.

As you can see the Atego is sporting a slightly rare sticker, a P30 Permit sticker to be exact. Not one I had come across before, although I now remember I did have to quote a job in my days at HC Wilson that would have required the same permits. Here’s the question;

Where abouts was Jonathan when he took these photos, that required him to have the P30 permit? No Googling the answer!!!

Just a couple of weeks back Steve Marsh and his little MAN were right down South West in Portugal, this week the complete opposite, right up North East in Finland. How do you get a 1931, 4.5 litre supercharged Bentley blower from the UK to Russia for a car rally? I have no idea, but I know you get it as far as Helsinki from where it will be forwarded onto its final destination somewhere in Russia. I’m guessing that although Bentley GH6951 is a regular at all the big car rallies all over Europe, the owners didn’t fancy driving it all the way from Manchester. In true 1980’s fashion, “Who you gonna call??” – Steve Marsh Express!

Not many miles condsidering the distance between the destinations if you know what I mean, but then again there was some 58ish hours on the Finnlines ferry. As always is the case when Marshy does a specialist job, back loads are always found even if there is a bit of empty running, but does that really matter if all miles are paid?? Not to you or I but there’s probably an Eco-warrior that would have something to say about it. Probably suggest we put Marshy on a non existent train!

Where will the little MAN be off to next I wonder? I can only guess it will be somewhere in between Portugal and Finland, although when you look at a map, that’s not really narrowing it down. Where ever he goes I always hope he takes some photos, mainly because I love the little MAN and secondly because of you lot, Marshy now has some dedicatded followers that often ask after him when he doesn’t appear on the blog for a while. As you may appreciated Mr Marsh is a busy chap and doesn’t have time for a lot of social media (that’s where I come in!) but you can follow him and his adventures on;

Another TB sticker out and about on the road with H.E. Payne Transport from Wyboston. Driver Trevor Forsey added the sticker to the back of his fridge trailer as he seems to be a bit if a sticker fan, I love a fan of a sticker! A proper looking back end on the back end of a proper trailer, Gray & Adams.